Big 12 Sends Two Teams To New Women’s NIT Event
Two Big 12 Conference women’s basketball teams will participate in the new NCAA-sponsored invitational tournaments that is now part of postseason action.
The NCAA created the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament after a recommendation by the NCAA to create an equal event for women (the men’s NIT is owned by the NCAA). It features a 32-team field, as the men’s NIT does.
The Women’s NIT, which is not operated by the NCAA and has been around since 1998, will also field a tournament. But, it has reduced its field from 64 teams to 48 teams.
Kansas won the WNIT last year.
BYU and TCU were invited and accepted bids, with both going to the WBIT. Texas Tech, the only other Big 12 team with an overall winning record, was not a part of either field.
TCU (20-11) won 20 games under first-year coach Mark Campbell in spite of a rash of injuries so severe that the Horned Frogs had to forfeit two conference games due to not having enough players to play safely. The Horned Frogs got some of those players back, including center Sedona Prince and guard Madison Conner.
TCU will face North Texas in the first round.
BYU (16-16) will participate in its first postseason as a Big 12 member after being selected to participate. BYU last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2022. The Cougars will face Santa Clara in the first round.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
